Charlie has been to London twice to box.
He fought “Gypsy” George Carmen during his first trip there in February in 1985 – a match he won by decision. It was a costly win, though; he tore his bicep during the second or third round. After surgery to repair the tear, he spent almost a year out of the sport.
Charlie says that he knew right away when it happened. The muscle ripped of his bone and rolled up. He lost all his power in that arm – his left – so he had to use only his right for the rest of the fight. Luckily, he says that his adrenaline was flowing so it didn’t really hurt that badly.
His next fight in London was in March of 1986. He fought Gary Mason at Wembley Arena. The guy was eventually ranked 8th in the world. Charlie says that he lost the fight by a TKO – technical knockout. The referee told him that he looked like he’d had enough.
Charlie said, “Thank you, sir. I have.”
His last international fight was in Italy on 11/14/86 against Angelo Musone. Musone was an Olympian and fresh off a bronze medal in the ’84 Summer Olympics. Charlie says that the main event that night included two guys that had also represented Italy in the Olympics.
Boxing is a mean business. Charlie thanks God every day that he left the sport with all his faculties.
Say a prayer for him (and me),
K. E.
As Crazy As It Sounds 